Starting gate



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,832

P. wemms STARTING GM! Filed Sept. 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l mmvron W/TNESS Pf/lL/P Mc Gnv/ws 7 a/ By ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1928.

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Filed Sept. 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

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' ATTORNEYS all of the horses.

Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

PHILIP MGGINNIS, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

STARTING GATE.

Application filed September 27, 1927. Serial No. 222,242.

The invention relates to starting-gates or barriers for race tracks, and more particularly to that type thereof in which the barrier, in its operative position, extendsacross the track at a height of approximately three feet, or about in registry with the breasts of the competing horses. In the particular class of starting-gates in quest-ion, the barrier is pivotally swung to an inoperative, raised position when the gate is released to start the race, and the possibility existsthat the webbing or barrier, in its upward swing, may catch beneath the neck of one or more horses and thus prevent their proper start ing, or even interfere with the starting of The object of the invention is to provide a gate of novel construction and operation in which this possibility is eliminated or at least reduced to a minimum, and whereby the proper functioning of the gate 1s assured. Other more specific objects Wlll appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompaning drawings, which Iillustrate an example of the invention withoutdefining its limits, Fig; 1 is a perspective view of a starting-gate embodyingthe invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the gate in its lowered or starting position; and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are perspectiveviews of the locking mechanism whereby the gate is locked in its operative, starting position.

The starting-gate which, generally-speak j ing, may be of any. conventional construction comprises upright posts 10 located at opposite sides of the race track which usually is provided withrails 12 as shown in Fig. 1. The posts 10 are secured in upright positions bysuitable braces 13 and 14, and at their upper ends pivotally support the main members 15 of the starting-gate. The latter is sprung or thrown from its lowered operative position to a raised inoperative position by means of springs or equivalent devices connected with the main members 15 in the well known way. In starting-gates of the type under discussion as usually constructed and operated, the conventional barrier is carried directly by the main members 15 and-accordingly moves in an are having the pivots of the main members 15 as centers when the gate is sprung. The aforesaid barrier generally located at a distance of about three feet above the surface of the track or.

in other words approximately in registry with the breast of a horsepartaking in'the race. With this arrangement of the startinggate it happens from time to time, particularly in the case of low standing horses having the habit of throwing their heads downwardly, that the heads of such horses may become caught by the barrier as it rises subsequent to the release of the starting-gate. The possibility is entirely avoided in the instant construction which for this purpose includes auxiliary members 17 pivoted at 18 to the outer ends of the main members 15. These auxiliary members 17 carry the barrier 19 which may be of any conventional form' and accordingly may consist of web bing or other suitable yielding material, the ends of which are connected with hooksor equivalent devices 20 provided on theauxiliary members 17 so that said barrieris capable of being positioned transversely across the track at about the level previously indicated. The auxiliary members 17 are capable of moving independently or relatively to the main members 15 and when the barrier is released are given such independent movement by suitable mechanism which in the illustrated example is shown in the form of compression springs 21 mounted on rods 22 pivotally connected at 23 with the auxiliary members 17 and slidable in' brackets 24 which form abutments for one end of the springsand are fixed upon'the main members 15 for instanceby means of set screws 25; to arrest the movement of the rods 22 under the influence of the springs 21 stops 26 are fixed. upon set rods for engagementv with the brackets 24 or preferably with resilient cushions 27 mounted thereon. In

the operative position of thegate the auxil- I iarymembers 17 are maintained in an operative position which in the illustrated example is shown being approximately horizontal by means of alternately locking de vices fixed upon the posts 10. The locking devices of the illustrated example comprise vertically movable bolts 28preferably provided with. rollers 29 adapted to project in front of lugs 30 on the auxiliary members 17 which as shown may be formed by bending theends of said auxiliary members 17 transversely to their length. The bolts 28 are vertically slidable in guides 31 depending from brackets 32 which are secured upon the posts 10 in any convenient manner as by set, screws 33. The bolts 28 are maintained in their operative locking positions in any suitable manner so as to be capable of being automatically released vhen it desired to spring the starting-gate; in the illustrated example the means. in quest-ion comprise electrically controlled latches 34 which are controlled by the starter and may be of any conventional construction; as these latches per se form no'part oi the present invention excepting in so fares they con,- tribute to its operativeness it has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same in detail.- For the purpose of throwing the bolts 28 into their releasing positions when the latching devices 34 are operated compression springs 35 are provided; these springs are mounted upon rods 36 depending from the bolts 28 through the bottom of the guides -llQsaid springs being confined between said bottom the guides 31 and abutments 37 carried by the rods and comprising for instance nuts, screw breaded thereon. developed by the springs 21 or equivalent mechanism whereby the auxiliary members 17 are independently actuated from interfering with the release of the lockingbolts 28, the members 17 at their free ends are provided with short projections 38 adapted to rest upon lugs 39 from part of the brackets32 and preventing the members 17 from engaging the upper ends ofthe bolts 28 p when the latter are in their locking positions.

The arrangement further includes a bar 40 pivoted at ll upon extensions 42 projecting upwardly from the brackets 82.. These bars d0 are adapted to extend across and about the projections '88 and locked beneath a stationary lug 43 so as to prevent unintentional disengagement oi the auxiliary members 17 from theloclring means by pressure upon the barrier 19 from below. Such pres sure results for instance when a horse gets head under the barrier as they sometimes do when throwing their heads up and'down prior to the starting of the race ans" when in position at th starting-gate.

In practice the starting oiii-" 'd by suitably closing an electric circuitv the proper moment actuates the latching device 34; to release the bolts 28 which accordingly are throwndownwardly by the action oi thc springs 35 to the position shown in F 4- and are thus removed from engagement with the lugs 80 and accordingly release the members 17 from restraint. At the instant this release takes place the action of the springs 16 will cause tae main member 15 to swing upwardly about their pivots and accordingly withdraw the auxiliary members 17 from engagement with the aforesaid locking mechanism. facilitate this withdrawal rollers 44L may be provided upon opposite sides of the brackets 82 as shown in Fig. 4-. As soon as the auxiliary members 17 are clear of the brackets 32 and associated In order to prevent "he pressure brings it to a lowered position before itstarts to move upwardly with the main members 15 to an inoperative raised position. In some devices the aforesaid initial movement of the auxiliary members 17 whereby the barrier 19 is brought to alow cred position may be other than a movement in the arc of a circle without in any way changing the result and the efficiency of the device. brought to a position in which interference with the horses during the raising ofthe barrier to its inoperative position is reduced to a minimum as not entirely obviated. To

reduce the danger of interference with the barrier as 1t describes the atoresald m1t1almovements the rails l2 are preferably lowered for instance as-indicated at 12 in T" r 1g. 2. i

m 1 lhe device ls entiemely simple n construction and Gl'llClGlllJ 1n operation and may readily be attached to existing starting-- gates without requiring any material changes in the construction and operation thereof.

Various changes in the specific form shown and described may 'bemade within the scope of the: claims without departing from the spirit or" the invention.

I claim:

1. In a starting-gate, the combination of a barrier adapted to occupy an operative, restrammg position, primary means whereby said barrier is movable to an inoperative position, and auxiliary means movably connected with said primary means whereby said barrier is supported in an operative illiposition and is independently shifted clownwardly from its operative position prior to its being carried by said primary means to said inoperative position.

2. In a starting-gate, the combination of main carrying means movable froinan In any case the barrier is;

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operative position to an inoperativeposition,

a barrier, and auxiliary carrying means movably connected with said main carrying.

means and arranged to support said barrier in a restraining position when said main carrying means are in their operative position, said auxiliary carrying means having an independent initial movement whereby said barrier is initially shifted downwardly from its operative position when said startmg gate is released, andsubsequently being movable with said main carrying ,means' whereby said barrier is shifted to an inoper ative position. i v

3. In a starting-gate, the combination of l'ZE.

movement whereby said barrier is. initially.

shifted downwardlywhen the starting-gate is released,'and subsequently being movable with said main members to shift said barrier to an inoperative position.

4:. In a starting-gate, the combination of pivoted main members movable from a lowered operative position to a raised inoperative position, a barrier arranged to be swung upwardly by said main members from an operative restraining position to an inoperative position when the gate is released, auxiliary members movably connected with said main members for supporting said barrier in its operative position when said main members are in their lowered position, and means whereby said auxiliary members are operated relatively to and independently of said main members when said gate is released, to initially shift said gate downwardly from its operative position as it is being moved to its inoperative position by said main members.

5. In a. starting-gate, the combination of pivoted main members movable from a lowered operative position to a raised inoperative position, a barrier arranged to be swung upwardly by said main members from an operative restraining position to an inoperative position when the gate is released, auxiliary members pivotally connected with'said main members for supporting said barrier 'in itsoperative position when said main-members are in their lowered position, and a spring for pivotally swinging said auxiliary members relatively to said main members, to shift said gate downwardly from its operative position as it is being moved to its inoperative position by said main members.

6. In a starting-gate the combination of upright posts located at opposite sides of a race track, main members pivotally mounted on said posts at the upper ends thereof, springs connected with said mem bers for swinging them from an operative lowered position to an inoperative raisedposition, a barrier adapted to extend across said race track in an operative restraining position when said main members are in their operative positions and to be swung upwardly thereby to a raised, inoperative position, auxiliary members movably mounted on-said main members for supporting said barrier in its operative position, locking mechanism arranged to engage said auxiliary members for locking said gate in its-opertiv r siti ni me ns fo -tripri e a ekm meeh m to.- e e e sai ga e,

and an whe by said i ry me be s e t le re a i ely oisa d m m er when said gate isreleased, to impart an ind e den do nwa d mov m to he, barrier as it isbeing raised to its inoperativeposition. by said main members. I

7. va -startirigate, the combination of u tp tocat d a Opp s t d s. race track, main members pivotally mounted on said posts at the upper ends thereof, springs connected with said members for swinging them from an operative lowered position to an inoperative raised position, a barrier adapted to extend across said race track in an operative restraining position when said main members are in their operative positions and to be swung upwardly thereby to a raised, inoperative position,

auxiliary members pivot-ally connected with said main members at their free ends for supporting said barrier in its operative position, locking mechanism arranged to engage and auxiliary members for locking said gate in its operative position, electrically controlled'means for tripping said locking mechanism to release said gate, and springs whereby said auxiliary membersa-re pivotally actuated relatively to said main members when said gate is released, to im-- part an independent, downward pivotal movement to said barrier as it is being pivotally raised to its inoperative position by said main members.

8. In a starting-gate, the combination of a barrier adapted to occupy an operative, restraining position, primary means whereby said barrier is movable to an inoperative position, and auxiliary means movably connected with said primary means whereby said barrieris initially shifted downwardly from its operative position prior toits being ing mechanism cooperating with said auxil iary means to lock said gate in its operative position, means for tripping said locking mechanism to release said gate, and meansv whereby unintentional disengagement of said auxiliary means from said locking mechanism is prevented.

9. In a starting-gate, the combination of upright posts located at opposite sides of a racetrack, main members pivotally mounted on said posts at the upper endsthereof, springs connected -with,said members for swinging them from an operative lowered position to an inoperative raised position, a barrier adapted to extend across said race track in an operative restraining position,

when said main members are in their operative position and to be swung upwardly thereby to a raised, inoperative position, auxiliary members pivotally connected with said main members at their free ends for shifted to said inoperative position, lock-,

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supporting said barrierin its operative pos ition, locking mechanism arranged to engage said auxiliary members for locking said ally actuated relatively to said main mem-v bers when said gate is released, to impart an 10 independent, downward pivotal movement to said barrier as it is being pivotally raised to its inoperative position by said main members, and movable locking bars arranged to engage said auxiliary members to prevent disengagement thereof from said locking mechanism by pressure from below upon said barrier. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PHILIP 'MCGINNIS. 

